Hock Complete Game Leads Baseball to 5-4 Win over Bridgeport in Series Finale
Box Score DOBBS FERRY, N.Y. (Apr. 13, 2014) – Sophomore Christian Hock (Trumbull, Conn. / Notre Dame HS [Franklin Pierce Univ.]) struck out seven batters over a nine-inning complete game as the Mercy College baseball team picked up a 5-4 victory over the University of Bridgeport in the series finale.
The Mavericks improve to 10-18 overall and 7-8 in the East Coast Conference, while the Purple Knights fall to 12-18-1 overall and 6-10 in the ECC.
The Mavericks took the field on Sunday looking to prevent Bridgeport from sweeping them in the series. Freshman Dan Cleary (Smithtown, N.Y. / St. Anthony's) singled up the middle and sophomore Scott Hagan (Mamaroneck, N.Y. / Mamaroneck [SUNY Binghamton]) singled to set up first and third with no outs. Junior Chris Salvo then hit into what looked to be a double play, but the Purple Knights' Paul Menendez was pulled off the bag on a bad throw by shortstop Mike Perry, which allowed Cleary to score to take an early 1-0 lead.
In the top of the second inning, the Purple Knights tied the game at 1-1 on a homer by Casey McCone. The Mavericks broke the tie in the bottom half the inning after three walks for senior Nicholas Fiore (Wantagh, N.Y. / MacArthur), freshman Reed Farrier (Queensbury, N.Y. / Queensbury) and Cleary to load the bases. On the very next pitch, a passed ball by Bridgeport catcher Tim Bickford allowed Fiore to score from third for a 2-1 lead.
Mercy increased the lead after Hagan hit a two-RBI single to right center to score Cleary and Farrier for a 4-1 lead. Bridgeport answered in the top of the third on back-to- back RBI to cut the Mavericks lead to 4-3.
After Adam Thayer relieved starting pitcher Sal Lovaglio for the Purple Knights, a pitchers' duel between Hock and Thayer ensued for the next few innings. Mercy attempted to put some breathing room between them and the Purple Knights in the bottom of the sixth. Senior Ken Post (Closter, N.J. / St. Joseph's Regional) was walked to start the inning and then advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Fiore. Freshman Michael Grudzinski (Islip, N.Y. / Islip) singled to right center to move Post to third. Farrier then reached on a fielder's choice as the Purple Knights defense attempted to turn a double play, but failed on the transfer from second base to shortstop, allowing Post to cross the plate untouched to take a 5-3 lead.
In the seventh, Bridgeport scored on a sacrifice fly to cut the Mercy lead to 5-4 and put the pressure on the Mavericks to respond. After a 1-2-3 top of the eight, the Mavericks did just that, producing another 1-2-3 bottom half of the inning. In the last licks top of the ninth for the Purple Knights, Hock struck out the side to preserve the win.
For Mercy, Cleary finished 2-for-3 with two runs scored and a walk, while Hagan went 2-for-4 with two RBI and junior Sal Palumbo (Medford, N.Y. / Patchogue-Medford) finished 2-for-4.
Head Coach Bob Greiner and the Mavericks return to action on Tuesday, Apr. 15, as they host the Pioneers of LIU Post in a makeup of the final game of the series at 3:00 p.m.
